Ohio RB Looks at Big East, Big Ten

BlueGoldNews.com

12/16/2004

Canton McKinley (Ohio) High School is certainly no stranger to putting players in Division 1 schools, and the numbers of their alumni in the collegiate ranks will increase when running back Ryan Brinson makes his choice.

At five feet nine inches and 175 pounds, Brinson is a small and elusive target for opposing defenses. Add in his sub-4.4 speed, and he is the perfect scatback for a spread offense. Therefore, it was no surprise to see Brinson on an official visit to West Virginia the weekend of December 10th.

"I like it there a lot," the well-spoken senior said of his visit. "A lot of people told me how good it was, so I was expecting to have a good visit, and I did. All the guys were really cool – the coaches, the players, and even the president. We got to meet him, and it was just a nice time.

"West Virginia has good academics, and I got to see everything about the program. I'm looking for a school where I can get an education and win on the field, and West Virginia has all of those qualities."

Brinson, who plans to major in either athletic education or an area of the journalism field, was as impressed with the academic side of the visit as with the athletic side, and clearly has his priorities in order when it comes to college. He is obviously coming to play football, but he plans to utilize his time wisely and leave with a degree.

Brinson was hosted by another Ohio running back, Pernell Williams. And although the two did not know each other before the visit, they quickly hit it off.

"I knew of him," Brinson said of Williams, who starred in the Buckeye state last year and participated in the Big 33 all-star game, "but I hadn't met him before this. We had a good time."

Like many of the players on the weekend visit, Brinson got the chance to watch one of West Virginia's first Gator Bowl practices, and liked what he saw there as well. While noting he would "fit in very well in that offense," Brinson may have been thinking of other sub-six-foot running backs that have prospered in a Mountaineer uniform in recent years. With players such as Amos Zereoue and Avon Cobourne paving the way, West Virginia isn't afraid to feature smaller backs – a fact that many smaller, but productive, rushers are learning.

Brinson, who has visits scheduled for Iowa on Dec. 17th and Wisconsin in January, is not sure if he will take all of his visits before making a decision.